Letter scale



March 4, 1924. 1,486,054

R. A. STEVENSON LETTER SCALE Filed March 23. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnuewio'o fwd/$12M March 4 1924.

R. A. STEVENSON LETTER SCALE Filed March 23 1 ,921

Fig. 4.

2 Sheets-Sheet 3 way around the same.

, circular in shape.

patented Mar. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES 301mm ALVIN STEVENSON, or nancasrrzfiomo.

LETTER SCALE.

Application filed March 23, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ALVIN STE- VENSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lancaster. in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Letter Scale, of which the following is a full and exact specification. I

My invention relates to scales used for the purpose of weighing light objects such as postal matterand which are operative without the use of springs, my purpose beingto produce a device of this character so simple in construction that it can be made cheaply enough to be suitable for use as an advertising medium for gratuitous distribution.

More articularly stated, I seek to produce a (evice of this character which operates without counterbalancing weights by using the weight of the device itself as the means of securing equilibrium.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a-part of this specification, and in which similar numerals refer to similar-parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is aside view of my invention.

Figure 2 is anedge view. 7

Figure 3 is sideview of the scale loaded.

Figure 4. shows another form of my invention.

I Figure 5 is across-section on line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking-in the direction of the arrows.

"The letter-scale is composed principally of a cardboard plate 4, substantially semi- The semi-circular ed e of the plate 4 describes an arc of a circ e at the center of which is a small hole or eye 5. At this eye 5 the plate 4 is suspended so that it will be free to swing. On the hack of the plate 4 and behind the eye 5 is attached a small washer 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

At 7 is a graduated scale adjacent the periphery of theplate 4 and extending part This scale is divided "into ounces and fractions thereof by suit- S erial No. 454,643.

terial 9, at the other end of which is secured a spring clip 10 of ordinary construc tion capable of grasping and holding the .rer which is to be weighed.

To operate this letter-scale a nail or the like is inserted through the eye 5 and driven into a wall or other perpendicular. support so that the nail acts as the pivot about which the plate 4 can freely swing. With the plate 4 hanging suspended from the nail and unloaded the marker 11 is attached to the wall opposite and coinciding with the 0 or zero mark on the graduated scale 7. This marker 11 arts as the indicator and may be made by attaching a tack or pin or by pasting :1 piece of paper or other material at the shore mentioned point. In this instance. a gunmied paper arrow is attached to the wall for the indicator. The edge of the letter or other object to be weighed is inserted between the jaws of the spring clip 10. The weight of the ob ject will cause the plate 4 to turn in a clockwise direction about the pivot-point and thus carry the graduated scale 7 past the indicator ll until an equilibrium is established. The weight is then shown on the scale 7 directly opposite the point of the indicator 11.

By this method of using a semi-circular plate no weight is required to counterbalancev the weight of the letter or object weighed other than the weight of the plate itself. As a large arc is covered by the scale 7 the divisions may he made wide apart. Thus, my device constitutes a sufiiciently accurate scale for ordinary usaan'd is very simple in construction.

In order to prevent the device from rubhing on the wall and thus cause more or less inaccuracy the washer 6 is interposed between the back of the plate 4 and the wall. This washer tends to hold the device away from the wall and allow it to swing with a minimum of friction.

The form of my invention shown in Figure 4 is operated as described above.

My invention may be embodied otherwise than as'herein shown. Therefore, I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings and above described.

'lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows In a device of the class described, the

combination with a supporting element having an indicating mark thereon, of a relatively fiat member having an arcuate outer edge thereon struck from a center within the area of said member, means fixedly pivoting the member at the center from which said arcuate edge is struck to the support upon which said indicator mark is positioned, whereby the member depends under its own weight to have said arcuate edge lowermost with respect to the pivotal mounting: of the member, and means providing delineations upon the plate adjacent the outer arcuate edge thereof extending from said indicator mark upon the sup- 15 the member upon said support, and an BI- 20 ticle gripping device supported upon the lower free end of said flexible cord.

ROBERT ALVIN STEVENSON. \Vitnesses:

R. F. STEVENSON, A. F. STEVENSON. 

